An impressive 1600-year-old mosaic found during archaeological excavations in Yavne is to be placed on public display at the city’s cultural center, in a joint initiative launched by Yavne municipality, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Israel Land Authority.
In recent years, the Israel Antiquities Authority has been conducting
large-scale archaeological excavations to the southeast of Tel Yavne, as part
of the Israel Land Authority’s city development program. The excavations,
directed by Dr. Elie Haddad, Liat Nadav-Ziv and Dr. Jon Seligman, unearthed an
extensive industrial zone that was in operation for several centuries.
According to the archaeologists, this is the first time that such a
pavement has been uncovered in Yavne and its preservation is excellent. In
their opinion, “The pavement may have been part of a splendid residential
building in a wealthy neighbourhood adjacent to the industrial zone.”
The mayor of Yavne, Zvi Gur-Ari, states that “Archaeological
preservation and awareness of the past are important values in the life of the
city of Yavne, which has a magnificent history. In an age of progress and
accelerated development in all fields of life, future generations should also
be able to see how the city has evolved throughout history. We will continue to
work with the Israel Antiquities Authority to ensure public accessibility to
the finds and continued research and
understanding of the city’s past and its historical importance.”
The multicoloured mosaic pavement, dated to the Byzantine period (4th
-5th century CE) was unearthed in archaeological excavations directed by
Avishag Reiss of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The floor is decorated with
colourful geometric motifs and has a black rectangular frame. “At first, we did
not realize that the floor is multicoloured,” say Dr. Elie Haddad and Dr. Hagit
Torgë. “We assumed that it was simple white mosaic paving belonging to yet another
industrial installation. But black patches dotted around the mosaic suggested
that it was more than one color and prompted us to remove the whitish patina
that had coated it for years.
The conservation director went to work cleaning the mosaic with a
special acid,” they add, “and to our astonishment, a colourful mosaic carpet
was revealed, ornamented with geometric motifs.”
Once the mosaic had been documented, drawn and photographed in the
field, it was removed and temporarily transferred to the Israel Antiquities
Authority’s mosaic workshop at the Rockefeller Museum, where it has been
treated and preserved by the authority’s conservation experts.
In cooperation between the Israel Antiquities Authority and Yavne
municipality, which endeavours to make archaeology accessible to the town’s
residents, and with the assistance of the Israel Land Authority, a suitable
location has been found for the mosaic – in the plaza near Yavne’s cultural
center.
The municipality is currently preparing the infrastructure for the
mosaic, for the benefit of Yavne’s citizens and the general public. The
mosaic’s relocation and preservation will be carried out using ancient
technological methods and employing materials similar to those used in
antiquity. During the work, the site
will be open to the public, thus enabling everyone to see and enjoy the
conservation process and the gradual uncovering of the mosaic.
Archaeologist Diego Barkan from the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Tel
Aviv District welcomes the fruitful cooperation between the Israel Land
Authority and Yavne municipality. “I am happy that the mosaic will be displayed
in a central location in the city, so that the values embodied in its heritage
are preserved and made accessible to the general public.”
Source: Israel Antiquities Authority
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